NEW MEXICO. Acoma Pueblo. New Mexico

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1 New Mexico NEW MEXICO Acoma Pueblo Acoma Cibola County, New Mexico Pueblo of Acoma P. O. Box 309 Acomita, NM (505) Fax: Total area 378,114 acres Federal Trust 364,809 acres Tribally owned (BIA 1994) 377,794 Individually owned (BIA 1994) 320 Total labor force 898 Potential labor force (BIA 1993) 2,069 High school graduate or higher 64.6% Bachelor s degree or higher 5.8% Unemployment rate (Acoma Pueblo 1994) 38.57% Per capita income (Acoma Pueblo 1994) $4,049 Total reservation population (Pueblo 1995) 6,091 Tribal enrollment (BIA 1993) 5,902 The Pueblo of Acoma is located in the northwest corner of Cibola County, New Mexico. The pueblo is 120 miles from Santa Fe, 56 miles west of Albuquerque, and 15 miles from Grants. Adjacent to the Laguna Pueblo, the reservation spans approximately 378,000 acres. Most of the reservation lies south of U.S. I-40, between Grants and Albuquerque. The reservation includes the villages of Acomita and McCartys. The pueblo lies 365 feet above the surrounding valley of sparse, dry farmland with its mixture of pinon and juniper growth. Originally referred to as Sky City, for its location atop the high mesa, the older village site is known to its present inhabitants as Haaku. The original pueblo consists of 250 dwellings, none of which have running water or sewer service. A small number of people continue to reside in Old Acoma. The Spanish made the original land grant to the Pueblo of Acoma on September 20, President Hayes confirmed the grant by patent issued on November19, Acoma Mesa is thought to be among the oldest inhabited sites in the United States, first reported by Fray Marcos de Niza in 1539 and then visited by Francisco de Coronado s army in The Spanish title Kingdom of Acu originated through these and subsequent encounters during the 16th century. The Spaniards believed that 5,000 to 10,000 warlike people occupied a very large area in this kingdom. The early descriptions supported the Acoma s claims to traditional lands comprising some five million acres and numerous villages. The vast majority of the Acoma s aboriginal domain was taken from them. The Acoma subsequently recovered half a million of the original five million acres. While the Acoma received just over $6,000,000 from the Indian Claims Commission in 1970, after decades of litigation, they received no land exchange as a result of their claims. Now the Acoma are determined to restore their aboriginal lands by purchasing ranches and properties bordering the reservation. In 1977, the tribe purchased the Berryhill, or Bibo, Ranch that includes 13,860 acres to the west of the reservation. The Berryhill purchase was followed by the acquisition of the Kowina Foundation Purchase of 1979, which includes extensive ancestral ruins of the same name, a museum complex, and acres. In 1978, the Acoma purchased the large Wilson ranch, known locally as the Bar-15, to the east and south of the reservation. In 1982, the tribe added acres to the west through purchase of a farm from Pete Baca, Jr. Also in 1982, the tribe bought the Los Cerritos property, acres north of the reservation, which includes a business complex just north of Acomita. A trading post, a warehouse, a restaurant, a 25 unit mobile home and RV park site, and a Chevron service station are situated within the business complex. Former Governor Merle L. Garcia championed the purchase of this area because of its potential to become the cornerstone of Acoma economic development efforts. The most recent and largest purchase occurred in 1988, when tribal Governor Ray A. Histia finalized the Red Lake Ranch purchase of 114,342 acres south of the reservation. The tribe retrieved valuable religious sites through these purchases. During the past 37 years, the Pueblo of Acoma has moved from a primarily agrarian-based economy to an economy dependent upon regional mining activities and federal dollars. Local farming has dwindled over the past 50 years due to increased pollution of the Rio San Jose waters caused by the growing town of Grants, but ranching has increased significantly. Community development activities during this period have stressed the need for providing basic community services. The pueblo is governed by the 12-member elected Acoma Tribal Council. Council officers and members are appointed by the cacique for an indefinite term. Seven members, including either the chairperson or vice-chairperson, represents a quorum. The 435

2 ,,,,,, New Mexico,,,,,,,,,,,,, Chama Raton UTE MOUNTAIN Shiprock Aztec Colfax Farmington 64 Bloomfield Taos 64 Tres Piedras TAOS JICARILLA APACHE 666 Taos Union Springer San Juan Rio Arriba 56 Clayton PICURIS Espanola Mora SAN JUAN Harding NAMBE TESUQUE SAN JUAN 39 Las Vegas 54 San Miguel 25 Logan 84 Tucumcari 40 San Jon Santa Rosa Quay LAGUNA RAMAH NAVAJO 52 Valencia Vaughn Guadalupe Cibola Torrance 32 Curry Mountainair Fort Sumner ALAMO NAVAJO 60 Clovis Red Hill Magdalena 54 De Baca Portales Socorro Socorro Roosevelt 285 Lincoln Catron Chaves 206 Carrizozo Cuba Los Alamos 1 NAVAJO,, 2 3 Santa Fe,,, Sandoval 4 McKinley 8,,,, 5 Gallup LAGUNA 6,,, 7 40 Bernalillo SANDIA 285,,, ZUNI CANONCITO NAVAJO,,,, Grants Albuquerque Santa Fe ACOMA ISLETA,, Bernalillo Moriarty Ruidoso Roswell Grant Silver City Lordsburg Luna 152 Sierra Deming Truth or Consequences 70 Tularosa Alamogordo Las Cruces 10 Dona Ana 285 MESCALERO APACHE 82 Artesia Otero Carlsbad Eddy 285 Tatum Lovington Lea Hobbs 62 Hidalgo INDEX TO PUEBLO LANDS 1. SANTA CLARA 2. SAN ILDEFONSO 3. JEMEZ 4. COCHITI 5. SANTO DOMINGO 6. SAN FELIPE 7. SANTA ANA 8. ZIA 436

3 Acoma Pueblo New Mexico tribal governor, first and second lieutenants, the tribal secretary, and a tribal interpreter constitute the tribal administration, which works closely with the Council to lead the community. In 1863, President Lincoln presented to Acoma and several other pueblo groups in New Mexico a silver-headed cane in recognition of their political and legal right to land and selfgovernment. Traditionally, the canes are kept by the governors of each pueblo as a symbol of their authority during their terms of office. Although the tribe is organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, Acoma Pueblo chose not to adopt a constitution or charter. Acoma s traditional government serves as a stabilizing force for the community. The Pueblo of Acoma has an established tribal court system, with an independent and separate trial court. The Tribal Council currently serves as the appellate court. The Pueblo of Acoma is a member of the recently constituted Southwest Inter-Tribal Court of Appeals. Among the court s codes and ordinances affecting business development are the Zoning Resolution for the Los Cerritos Business District, the Business Privilege Tax Ordinance, and the Bingo Ordinance. Approximately 125 families are involved in ranching and/or farming. The reservation contains 2,000 acres of irrigible farm lands. Acoma has recently purchased two cattle ranches, which have an estimated additional carrying capacity of 420 head. The Bar-15 Ranch consists of 73,000 acres, and the Red Lake Ranch consists of 114,000 acres. A total of 2,000 head of cattle graze the area. There are two livestock organizations: the Acoma Cattle Association, and, the Acoma Livestock Growers Organization. Additionally, 238 acres of the reservation are farmed, generating approximately $53,981 annually. Residential farming areas are located in the San Jose River Valley. Bar-15 has received several stewardship awards and is becoming famous for its Hereford cattle operation. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS The pueblo has developed a comprehensive plan for its economic growth. Development efforts focus on establishing a wellbalanced economic base, which will provide job opportunities using the natural resources of the pueblo to their highest advantage and allow those people who wish to live and work on the pueblo to do so without sacrificing their earning capacity or quality of life. FORESTRY The reservation contains 178,396 acres of forested land, of which 4,500 are used for commercial purposes. Tribal members use the land for fuelwood for both personal consumption and sale. The pueblo operates a fuelwood business, begun in 1992 with the assistance of the BIA. In another BIA-assisted venture, the tribe started a woodland specialty project in They subsequently purchased a chipper and have shredded and sold 450 cubic feet of pinon-juniper. In 1994, the pueblo sold 1,277,087 board feet of sawlogs, woodlogs, and pulpwood material, for a total of $268,894. Timber species on the reservation include pinon, juniper, ponderosa pine, and Gambel oak. GAMING In 1995, the former Bibo Trading Post was renovated to house the Sky City Casino. The casino offers its guests daily and nightly bingo games, reel and video slots, pull tabs, and card games. AS EMPLOYER 51 percent of all employment of the tribal work force stems from community projects and facilities. The tribal government employs approximately 160 people, in addition to those employed through the school, IHS hospital, Laguna Pueblo, and the NM State Highway Department. INDUSTRIAL PARKS The pueblo owns a 17,000-square-foot, multi-purpose building (known as the EDA building), located on six acres of land, which is available for light or heavy manufacturing. In addition, the tribe has 363 acres of land available for commercial development. Available industrial land sites are 53 acres of lakefront property; 47 acres of frontage property along U.S. I-40; and, off exit 102, 235 acres zoned for commercial development property, as well as another 28 acres of road development property. NATURAL RESOURCES Natural resources on Acoma land include coal, oil, natural gas, uranium, rock, clay, sand, and gravel. Geothermal resources have been discovered on Acoma lands; one site has shown water temperatures varying from 82 to 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Wildlife resources are plentiful; they include deer, elk, antelope, and small game. A tribal-owned grocery store in the Los Cerritos area serves the surrounding communities. Additionally, the tribe operates a commercial complex which includes an Exxon gas station, a convenience store, a laundromat, a restaurant, bingo facilities, and a video store. The single largest private business sector at Acoma is potterymaking. In 1990, it was estimated that there were over 120 selfemployed potters. Pottery can be purchased at the Visitor s Center or at the nearby open-market. Old Acoma or Sky City, considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States, is very popular with visitors. Tours are offered daily, except for July and on either the first or second weekend of October. Enchanted Mesa, a monolith standing a few miles east of Acoma, rises nearly 400 feet above the valley, looming large in Acoma history. Acoma legend teaches that the mesa was inhabited by tribal ancestors. The San Esteban del Rey Mission shares the massive sandstone mesa with the Pueblo of Acoma. The mission was completed in 1640 on the site of a previous village and is registered as a National Historic Landmark. There is a Tourist Visitor Center at Old Acoma which offers a restaurant featuring both Anglo-American and traditional dishes. Overnight camping facilities are available at Acomita Lake. Hotels are located in nearby Grants, 15 miles from the reservation. There are many festivals and celebrations in Acoma Pueblo, including the Governor s Feast, Easter Celebration, Santa Maria Feast, Fiesta Day, rooster pulls, and the Harvest Dance and Annual Feast of San Estevan. While visitors are welcome at a number of these celebrations, no camera or video use is allowed at ceremonies or dances. Visitors must check in at the visitor center upon arrival. The pueblo is located three miles from Interstate 40. Cargo rail service (AT&SF) is available. An international airport is located in Albuquerque. Greyhound and Trailways bus companies serve 437

4 New Mexico Acoma Pueblo - Canoncito the region, as do Federal Express and UPS. Passenger rail service is available in Albuquerque. Electricity is supplied to the reservation by the Continental Divide Electric Cooperative. The Gas Company of New Mexico provides gas service. The tribe maintains a lagoon sewage system. Plans are underway to improve the water and sewer systems. The pueblo hosts a BIA Community Elementary School, an Acoma Head Start, and a multi-purpose training facility. Students also attend the Acomita Day School, the Sky City Community School, and the Laguna-Acoma High School. A community college offering vocational/technical training and a branch of New Mexico State University are located in Grants. The Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Health Facility provides health care to tribal members. The reservation features a Tribal Office Complex and a trailer park. The tribe publishes a daily paper and has access to cable TV and three local radio stations. Business establishments within the Alamo Chapter area include a trading post, a gas station, a video shop, and a cafe. The main highways through the area are State Route 169 and BIA Road N-55. A new paved road was constructed between Alamo and Magdalena. A 45 mile road, which will connect the reservation with Interstate 40, is being planned. Alamo has a Senior Citizens Center, a Cultural Center, and a Community Health representative. The Alamo Clinic provides basic health care while seriously ill cases are referred to Bernalillo County Medical Center in Albuquerque or Socorro Hospital in Socorro. Alamo has a K-12 school system though many students attend public school in Magdalena. Alamo also operates a Head Start program. Alamo Reservation Navajo Socorro County, NM Alamo Navajo Chapter P. O. Box 383 Magdalena, NM (505) Fax: Total area Tribally owned Individually owned Total labor force 403 High school graduate or higher 27.6% Bachelor s degree or higher 2.1% Unemployment rate 25.1% Per capita income $2,680 Total reservation population 1,528 63, acres 43, acres 19, acres Alamo is situated 220 miles southeast of the Navajo Nation capital of Window Rock, AZ. It is 20 miles from Magdalena, NM. The nearest large city is Socorro, NM, 57 miles to the southeast. The reservation is generally semi-arid, range land, some rolling hills, badlands, volcanic rock formations, and mountains. See Navajo Nation under Arizona for information. The Navajo Tribal Council recently approved a land lease, referred to as the Henderson Ranch, to be used for blue corn production, as well as other business and industrial ventures. Two cooperative farming operations, the Blue Corn Demo Farm and the Chapter Demo Ranch, were established in the late 1980s. The Alamo Navajo Advisory Board, Inc., is currently raising 80 head of cattle. Canoncito Reservation Navajo Bernalillo and Cibola counties, New Mexico Canoncito Navajo Chapter Canoncito, NM (505) Fax: Total area (BIA 1994) Federal trust (BIA 1994) 76,813 acres 69,144 acres Total labor force 741 High school graduate or higher 42.3% Bachelor s degree or higher 1.3% Unemployment rate 28.1% Per capita income $7,554 Total population 1,183 The Canoncito Reservation lies about 30-miles east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, just north of Interstate 40, in arid plateau country. In 1868, when New Mexico s Navajo Reservation was established by the U.S. government, the Canoncito Reservation was settled by Navajo people who chose not to make the long march to the Navajo Reservation. See Navajo Nation under Arizona for further information. Because it is part of the Navajo Nation, Canoncito Reservation receives a portion of the Navajo Tribe s revenues largely proceeds from mining and mineral sales. Most reservation inhabitants work off the reservation. Canoncito Reservation is just north of Interstate 40, a major eastwest artery in the region. Passenger and freight rail service, bus service, and commercial air service are available in Albuquerque, 35 miles east of the reservation. 438

5 Canoncito - Cochiti Pueblo Gas is provided by Gas Company of New Mexico, electricity by Public Service Company of New Mexico. Water is well-drawn. Medical care and hospitalization are available in Albuquerque. Cochiti Pueblo Keresan Sandoval County, New Mexico Pueblo of Cochiti P. O. Box 70 Cochiti, NM (505) Fax: Total area Tribally owned Total labor force 290 High school graduate or higher 74.8% Bachelor s degree or higher 8.8% Unemployment rate 4.1% Per capita income $5,828 Total population 1,410 50, acres 50, acres The Cochiti Pueblo is located on the west side of the Rio Grande in north-central New Mexico, about 25 miles southwest of Santa Fe. The reservation lies in the foothills of the red-cliffed Jemez Mountains. The land is rolling and sprinkled with pinon and juniper trees. The climate is semi-arid and quite moderate. The elevation averages about 5,400 feet. The pueblo site has been occupied by a band of Keresan Indians since prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the year Because Cochiti lies west of the Rio Grande and away from the primary Spanish routes, the pueblo was not often visited by outsiders until after In 1680, the Pueblo Revolt resulted in the expulsion of the Spanish colonists from the area north of the Rio Grande. The Pueblo Indians maintained their independence, and in 1689 the Spanish Crown established the original pueblo land grant. Cochiti Pueblo enjoyed independence until 1821, when the Mexican government gained control over New Mexico and declared the people citizens of Mexico. In 1846, the U.S. gained control over New Mexico. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo confirmed the traditional Indian land grants. In 1864, the U.S. Congress patented the original Cochiti land grant from the Spanish Crown. The Cochiti are from the Eastern Keresan language group, which comprises a cluster of five pueblos. It is generally agreed that the Cochiti lived at Frijoles Canyon until a few centuries before the beginning of the Spanish colonial era in the 1590s. The band has occupied the site of the present-day pueblo for at least 700 years. The present Cochiti village lies near the center of the reservation, a tract of land lying along the Rio Grande, which provides irrigation water to support the tribe s traditional farming life style. New Mexico Today, a number of traditional customs and ceremonies continue. Many tribal members belong to either the Turquoise or the Pumpkin Kiva. These moiety affiliations are passed down from fathers to their children. The clan system continues as well traditional matrilineal units number about a dozen, with membership acquired from the mother at the time of one s birth. San Buenaventura Feast Day (July 14) honors the patron saint of the pueblo, while the Riverman s Day Celebration honors Santa Cruz. Tribal traditions perhaps remain most solidly rooted in the arts and crafts produced by tribal members. Drum makers, potters, silversmiths, painters, and storytellers are all presentday manifestations of the rich and vibrant Cochiti culture. Recent economic developments of note include the construction of Cochiti Dam by the Army Corps of Engineers, completed in This project created Cochiti Lake, the spur to a modest residential and commercial development boom for the tribe. In addition, leasing of tribal lands provides the tribe with a significant portion of its annual income. Although the tribe is organized under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, tribal members consider themselves a traditionally organized tribe and maintain no constitution. The tribe s governing body is the Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Council, a group comprised of 43 members. The Council is composed of former top tribal officials, governors, lieutenant governors, war captain, lieutenant war captain, fiscale major, and the assistant fiscales major. Elections of officers are held on December 29 of each year, with new officers being sworn in on January 1. Terms are for one year. The pueblo maintains its own tribal court system. While pueblo residents traditionally relied significantly upon agriculture, today this activity no longer figures as a major economic force within the community. Just over 15,000 acres of tribal land are designated for grazing purposes, while 880 acres are designated for farming. According to 1990 U.S. Census figures, about four people make their living on agriculture within the pueblo. CONSTRUCTION In 1995, construction contracting and labor provide about 25 to 30 jobs for tribal members. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In 1984, when the developer for Cochiti Lake went bankrupt, the tribe took over the master lease of 99 years and formed the Cochiti Community Development Corporation. This enterprise manages the 600-acre Cochiti Lake residential development, a golf course, marina, recreation center, and commercial center. FISHERIES The Cochiti Dam Project, which created Cochiti Lake, was constructed in part for the enhancement of area fisheries and wildlife. The lake is popular with recreational fishing enthusiasts, to whom the sale of fishing permits serves as a source of tribal income. The nearby Jemez Mountains also provide good fishing grounds. AS EMPLOYER A significant number of tribal members are employed in various facets of the tribal government, including public administration, health services, and educational services. 439

6 New Mexico Cochiti Pueblo - Isleta Pueblo The Marina at Cochiti Lake Gas and electricity on the pueblo are provided by the Public Service Company of New Mexico. Cochiti has its own water and sewage systems. Medical care and hospitalization are provided by the USPHS hospital in Santa Fe and the Bernalillo County Medical Center in Albuquerque. The pueblo has a community center which houses tribal government offices, a dental and health clinic, substance abuse program, and the education department. An annex houses the CHR office, the Post Office, and a library. The pueblo operates a Head Start program and the Bernalillo School District administers the middle school. High school students attend Bernalillo Public High School. Radio, television, and print media are all available through Santa Fe and Albuquerque media sources. MINING Low-grade deposits of gold and silver on tribal lands have supported limited mining activities in the past. The reservation also holds deposits of pumice, gypsum, and clay. Approximately 20 miles east of Cochiti is the Cerrillos District, where veins of turquoise have been mined for centuries. There are a variety of businesses either operated by or affiliated with the pueblo. These include a boat rental operation on Cochiti Lake, a laundromat, and a residential sub-leasing business. A restaurant and Allsup s Convenience/Package Liquors/Gas/ Fast Foods Center is located at the Cochiti Lake Community Center, 3 miles from the village. There is also a small store, Romero s, in nearby Pena Blanca, and Quintana s, located in the pueblo. A number of the facilities associated with the Cochiti Community Development Corporation serve as first-rate tourist and recreational attractions. The golf course has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the country s top 25 public courses. This spectacular high desert course is carved among the cedars, pinons, and natural arroyos. A pro shop, golf lessons from P.G.A. Golf Professionals or Assistants, tournaments, and a snack bar are all available at the course. The course is a par 72 and plays to 6,500 yards. The Cochiti Lake Marina provides boat rentals for a variety of water sports. The lake itself has areas for camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking. In addition, the Cochiti Recreation Center offers tennis courts, a swimming pool, bingo, volleyball, and more. Road access to the reservation is provided by Routes 22 and 16, both of which intersect with Interstate 25 about 15 miles away. The nearest commercial airport is in Santa Fe, about 25 miles away, while Albuquerque International Airport lies approximately 45 miles to the south. The major bus lines serve both of those cities; commercial train service is available in Lamy, about 30 miles away. Trucking companies serve the reservation directly. Isleta Pueblo Tano-Tigua Tribe Bernalillo, Torrence, and Valencia counties, New Mexico Pueblo of Isleta P. O. Box 1270 Isleta, NM (505) Fax: Total area 211,045 acres Total labor force 1,209 High school graduate or higher 67.4% Bachelor s degree or higher 4.3% Unemployment rate 11.7% Per capita income $7,107 Total reservation population 2,979 Tribal enrollment 4,538 Isleta Pueblo is located approximately 15 miles south of Albuquerque. It is one of the largest pueblos in New Mexico, covering an area more than 329 square miles. Its terrain is diverse, extending from the forested Manzano Mountains in the east, to the mesa lands of the Rio Puerco in the west. The principal village of Isleta lies in the Rio Grande Valley. The pueblo has occupied its present site for at least 450 years. In 1855, the U.S. Congress confirmed the Spanish land grant to Isleta s inhabitants, which was reconfirmed and patented in The Isleta Pueblo stood at its present location when Francisco de Coronado first explored the area in the 1540s. Spanish colonists returned in 1598, led by Juan de Oñate. Harsh Spanish rule 440

7 Isleta Pueblo New Mexico devastated pueblo life for the next 80 years. The Mission of San Antonio, constructed in 1613 in the village of Isleta, was part of the Spanish colonists system of forced religious conversion. Though the Isletans did not participate actively in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, hundreds were taken prisoner by the Spaniards and the remaining population was forced to flee westward to Hopi territory. The pueblo was re-populated in the early 1700s. Traditionally an agricultural society, Isleta s principal crop was corn. Irrigation systems were developed using water from the Rio Grande. Despite differences in language, Isleta shares many cultural similarities with the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos due to prolonged periods of contact. Isletans speak Tiwa, a dialect of Tanoan. Isleta has five corn groups. In this matrilineal culture, Isletans belong to their mother s corn group. In addition, they belong to one of two moieties, Shifun (Black Eye) and Shure (Red Eye). Each moiety is responsible for the execution of one major ceremonial dance each year. As in many pueblo cultures, religious ceremony is an integral part of everyday life among Isleta s people. After a long period of internal division between conservative and less traditional members, the pueblo adopted a constitution in 1947 which reunited the two factions. The 1947 constitution was replaced in 1970 by a new constitution. Roughly 4,500 acres of land are under cultivation. Fewer than 10 percent of the people employed on the reservation have jobs in commercial farming and ranching. Woodlands are utilized for grazing, hunting, and the harvest of pinon nuts. The Isleta Pueblo Farming Enterprise assists Isleta farmers with agricultural equipment, laser land leveling, and irrigation systems maintenance and improvement. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The pueblo is currently renovating the Isleta Lakes recreational facilities, and plans are underway to double the size of the Isleta Gaming Palace by spring of The pueblo has a comprehensive master plan which calls for greatly expanded tourism and recreational opportunities, including further renovation of the casino into a resort destination with a hotel, conference facilities, a championshipcaliber 27-hole golf course, and upgraded camping facilities. A 680-acre regional park is planned as well, with RV access and a recreation complex offering a range of sports and leisure activities. FISHERIES The Isleta Lakes, stocked with trout and channel catfish, provide good recreational fishing. FORESTRY Over 750 acres of commercial timber stand in the Manzano Mountains are periodically thinned for the sale of timber and firewood. The timber harvesting enterprise began in A forest management plan is under review in GAMING The pueblo operates the Isleta Gaming Palace, one of the largest casinos in New Mexico. The 33,000-square-foot facility currently attracts an average daily attendance of 2,000 people and employs over 600 people. The enterprise provides significant revenue for maintaining tribal governmental operations and social and community programs, as well as capital resources for the pueblo s continued economic development. AS EMPLOYER Tribal-operated law enforcement, educational, and health departments employ a number of tribal members. Significant among these is the Community Health Representative Program (CHRP), which employs and trains pueblo residents to work in a variety of health care occupations. Other opportunities are offered by the Isleta schools, and solid waste management, fire and rescue, and water quality programs. Tribal businesses include a small supermarket, a gas station, Isleta Sand and Gravel, Isleta Farming Enterprises, a campground, and the casino. A gift shop sells locally produced arts and crafts. Isleta Pueblo began to develop its tourism industry in the late 1970s with the establishment of a fishing park and recreation area. Facilities include Bass, Turtle, and Sunrise Lakes, a picnic area, a playground, and a campground. The lakes are stocked with trout and catfish. The casino attracts many visitors, averaging a daily attendance of 2,000 people. The village itself is of architectural interest. Visitors are welcome to visit the Isleta mission church, constructed in the early 1600s, which presides over the pueblo s historic plaza. A small museum is located adjacent to the church. Isleta Pueblo is located 13 miles south of Albuquerque on Interstate 25. Airport service is available at Albuquerque International Airport. A freight railway runs north-south through the reservation along the Rio Grande corridor. Bus and passenger service is available in Albuquerque, and trucks serve the reservation directly. Isleta Pueblo has one elementary school. Older students attend schools in Albuquerque and Los Lunas. Head Start, summer recreation, and youth counseling programs are operated by the pueblo. A small pueblo-owned health clinic provides both basic and emergency care. The pueblo also runs its own ambulance service. The tribal operated Community Health Representative Program provides a variety of health services to members, including nutrition, counseling, and maternity and child care. Additionally, the pueblo operates the Cottonwood de Isleta Rehabilitation Center, a 65-bed inpatient facility on a 26-acre site. There are a number of community service projects being planned in the pueblo. A multi-purpose complex, housing a recreation center, a health center, and an education center is under development. The recreation center, which is ready for construction in 1995, will feature a swimming pool, gymnasium, and weight training and aerobics facilities. The health and education centers are still in planning stages. 441

8 New Mexico Jemez Pueblo Tano-Jemez Sandoval County, New Mexico Office of the Governor - Jemez Pueblo P. O. Box 100 Jemez Pueblo, NM (505) Fax: Total area Tribally owned Government owned Total labor force 560 High school graduate or higher 68.4% Bachelor s degree or higher 3.8% Unemployment rate 21.1% Per capita income $4,775 Total reservation population 1,734 Tribal enrollment 2,588 89, acres 89,618.3 acres.83 acres The Jemez Reservation is located in north-central New Mexico, within the southern end of the stunningly beautiful Canon de San Diego, about 50 miles northwest of Albuquerque and 75 miles southwest of Santa Fe. The reservation covers just under 90,000 acres. Most tribal members reside in the village known as Walatowa (a Towa word meaning this is THE place ). The original Spanish land grant to the pueblo was made on September 20, The U.S. Congress confirmed the grant on December 22, President Lincoln issued a patent to cover the grant on November 1, Ancestors of the Jemez migrated to the pueblo s present location from the four-corners area during the late 14th century. Jemez Pueblo to forcibly Christianize them. These activities culminated in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, during which the Spanish were expelled from the New Mexico Province by the collaborative efforts of all the Pueblo Nations. By 1688, the Spanish had begun their reconquest and by 1696 finally succeeded in subduing the Jemez Nation and concentrating the tribe into the village of Walatowa, where they reside today. In 1838, the Towa-speaking people from the Pueblo of Pecos (located just east of Santa Fe) were invited to resettle at the Jemez Pueblo in order to escape harassment by the Spanish and Comanches. In 1936, the groups were merged by an Act of Congress. Today, farming still serves as an important source of tribal income, with corn and chili crops being particularly wellrespected. In addition, many tribal members now also work in the region s timber industry and in the reservation s thriving and internationally renowned arts and crafts cottage industry. Other members find employment off the reservation in fields like high technology at Los Alamos Laboratories and at computer firms in Albuquerque and Santa Fe and in government positions with the BIA and other agencies. Traditional culture remains vital at Jemez, with many dances and ceremonies held throughout the year. The Pueblo of Jemez is a sovereign nation with an independent government and tribal court system. The secular tribal government includes the Tribal Council, the Jemez Governor, two lieutenant governors, two fiscales, and a sheriff. The Tribal Council is composed of 14 members, with the presence of eight required for a quorum. Council members are former governors and serve life terms. Officers are appointed to one-year terms by the cacique, the highest religious leader. New officers are sworn in on January 1. Traditional matters are still handled through a separate governing body. The traditional government includes the spiritual and society leaders, a war captain, and a lieutenant war captain. There is also a tribal administrator as well as professional staff who ensure continuity from one administration to the next. Oral history holds that ancestors of the present-day Jemez people originated in a place called Hua-na-tota. The tribe migrated to the Canon de San Diego region in the 14th century and became one of the largest and most powerful of the Pueblo cultures by the time of European contact in They traditionally relied on hunting, gathering, and farming for their subsistence. The pueblo s first contact with Europeans came with the Coronado Expedition. Following the Coronado Expedition, the tribe was left in peace for 40 years until the next wave of Spanish explorers arrived. During the next 80 years, the Jemez people carried out numerous revolts and uprisings in response to Spanish attempts The Convenience Store at Jemez Pueblo 442

9 Jemez Pueblo - Jicarilla Apache Agriculture and livestock represent a major source of livelihood on the reservation. The Jemez people are particularly known for their corn and chili crops. CONSTRUCTION The tribe recently undertook a traditional fieldhouse construction project, a replica of one of the base-camps traditionally used for hunting and agricultural activities. This project involved the construction of a full-sized fieldhouse, built with traditional tools and techniques by the Jemez Pueblo Summer Youth Program, under the leadership of the pueblo s Tribal Archaeologist and traditional leaders. FISHERIES The reservation lands, composed largely of mountainous territory covered with streams and ponds, lend themselves to recreational fishing. This is a popular activity with both tribal members and the general public, particularly at the Dragonfly Recreation Area. The tribe realizes modest revenues selling permits to non-tribal members. FORESTRY Timber resources on the reservation are valuable, both for saw timber and fuelwood. Tribal timber sales since 1957 have totaled nearly six million board feet of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. The reservation is home to many high-risk, over-mature trees which the tribe would like to market. The tribe is also instituting a fuelwood permit system for sales of logging slash and pinonjuniper to the general public. Annual revenues from timber sales are significant. AS EMPLOYER A large number of tribal members are employed by the tribal government s various departments, including law enforcement and the tribal court system, health, administration, and other operations. The BIA and the Forest Service also provide employment to a number of tribal members. MINING In 1989, the pueblo entered into a lease agreement with Mobil Producing of Texas and New Mexico, Inc., to produce oil and gas within a 7,600-acre tract of the reservation. Other minerals available on the reservation include coal, uranium, and sand and gravel, along with geothermal energy resources. The tribe has an agreement with the P&M Construction Company to mine sand and gravel, which provides the pueblo with monthly royalty payments. A cottage industry for the production and sale of arts and crafts represents a major source of employment and income for the tribe. The Jemez are internationally known for their traditional polychrome pottery, woven cloths, stone sculptures, moccasins, jewelry, and basketry. The pueblo also operates a convenience store/gas station at the village, along Route 4. A church was renovated to house the Walatowa Visitor s Center, offering information and arts and crafts. The visitor s center sponsors the annual Jemez Red Rock Arts and Crafts Show in the Red Rocks area, near the tribe s convenience store. The reservation and surrounding areas offer an abundance of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. The scenic Red Rocks area New Mexico is located about 3 miles north of Jemez Pueblo on Route 4. There are numerous hot springs on the reservation, excellent for soaking, with camping nearby. The hot springs and camping areas include Holy Ghost Springs and Dragonfly Recreation Area (also offering good fishing). In addition, there is an annual elk hunt for a limited number of non-tribal people, as well as a turkey bow hunt. Hiking, mountain climbing, and winter crosscountry skiing are also quite popular. The Jemez State Monument at the tribal Visitor s Center offers a one-of-a-kind museum and guided tour, which includes 700-year-old pueblo ruins, a 17th century Spanish mission, and more. Finally, the pueblo celebrates a number of feast days and ceremonies throughout the year. Visitors are welcome at many of these events. State Highway 44 connects the reservation to Interstate 25 and Albuquerque to the southeast and to Farmington to the northwest. Highway 4 runs up the Jemez Canyon and then east to Los Alamos. Commercial bus service is available in San Ysidro, 15 miles from the pueblo. Commercial train lines serve Bernalillo, 35 miles away. Truck lines serve the reservation directly. Electricity is provided by the Jemez Mountain Cooperative. Water and sewer systems are provided by the tribe through IHS. The pueblo maintains its own health clinic that serves as the primary source of care for most tribal members. For more serious health problems, the Albuquerque Indian Hospital, the University of New Mexico Hospital, and traditional healers provide services and care. The pueblo hosts a BIA day school and a public school for elementary and secondary grades, as well as a Head Start program which utilizes teachers and teacher s aides from the community. High school students either go to public school in Jemez Springs or attend boarding school in Santa Fe. Jicarilla Apache Reservation Jicarilla Apache Rio Arriba and Sandoval counties, New Mexico Jicarilla Apache Tribe P. O. Box 547 Dulce, New Mexico (505) Fax: Total area Tribally owned 870, acres 823, acres Total labor force 1,104 High school graduate or higher 70% Bachelor s degree or higher 5.5% Per capita income $5,719 Unemployment rate 17.2% Total reservation population 2,636 Tribal enrollment 3,136 The Jicarilla Apache Reservation spans 870,763 acres of scenic terrain in north-central New Mexico, on the eastern edge of the San Juan Basin. The reservation s geography varies from high desert at the south boundary, at about 6,400 feet in elevation, to 443

10 New Mexico Jicarilla Apache mountainous areas of over 10,600 feet in elevation in the north. Approximately in the center of New Mexico s east and west boundaries, the reservation s northern boundary borders on the Colorado line. The town of Dulce is the center of most community activity. The Jicarilla Apache Reservation was created by executive order on February 11, Since the 1970s, the tribe has purchased an additional 80,000 acres, bringing the total to 870,000 acres. The Apache people, including those on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, are linguistically related to the greater Na-Dene language family. Linguistic experts believe that the Apache people descended from arctic regions of western Canada to the desert southwest of the United States between the late thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Jicarilla Apache people s traditional lands spanned more than 50 million acres and were bounded by four sacred rivers. The area s geography, with its variety of terrain and ecosystems, afforded the Jicarilla a life style of hunting, fishing, and agricultural development. The Apaches vehemently resisted the encroachment upon their traditional lands by Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers and military. But by the mid-1880s, Apaches were consolidated on various Southwestern Indian reservations. The Jicarilla were sent to the Mescalero Apache Reservation in southeastern New Mexico. The Jicarilla tribal leadership, stepping outside the bounds of traditional channels, sought to win the support of New Mexico Territorial Governor Ross in 1886, in an attempt to regain their northern reservation. Ross influential coalition convinced the president to sign the 1887 Executive Order which created the permanent site of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. In an effort to create self-sufficiency among the Jicarilla Apache, the U.S. government expanded the reservation in 1907 and encouraged the Jicarilla to raise livestock. The reservation s ample natural resources have proven to be the tribe s greatest economic asset. Currently, fees from hunting and fishing, livestock production, and particularly the vast oil and gas reserves located in the San Juan Basin have provided valuable sources of tribal revenue. Protecting these assets continues to be the Jicarilla people s greatest challenge. Since the 1970s, considerable tribal funds have been spent in resolving legal issues relevant to natural resources. The tribe brought suits against a number of oil companies and the secretary of the interior. While many of the oil companies were quick to settle, the U.S. government proved to be the most intractable. The secretary of the interior refused to sign any new agreements unless the tribe agreed to drop its case. For expediency s sake the tribe agreed, yet this action signaled a new relationship between the tribe and the Department of the Interior with the tribe taking the initiative in forging increasingly sophisticated agreements with industry partners. In addition to this shift in control over their natural reserves, the Jicarilla Apache won the right, in a decision by the Supreme Court in the early 1980s, to act as a sovereign entity and impose a severance tax on minerals extracted from tribal lands. In 1976, the tribe entered into a joint contract with the Palmer Oil Company of Billings, Montana, for the development of oil and gas. The tribe bought out Palmer s interests in 1977 and became the first tribe in the country to own and operate oil and gas wells. The tribe also formed the Jicarilla Oil and Gas Administration, which successfully petitioned to withdraw its royalty gas from interstate commerce, acquired a small-producer s certificate in its own name, and began marketing its gas in New Mexico. The Jicarilla Apache Tribe is governed by an elected president, vice-president, and an eight-member tribal council. Tribal members are eligible to vote at age 18, and elections are held every four years. The Jicarilla Apache were organized in 1937 under the terms of the Indian Reorganization Act. The tribe funds and operates its own law enforcement program and tribal court. The BIA has a criminal investigator who provides technical and administrative assistance to the tribal program. The tribe also holds a corporate charter. Ranching serves as the primary agricultural enterprise on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation and features many family operated cow-calf operations. The livestock industry has been a primary use of reservation land since Sheep raising dominated this industry until 1960, when cattle raising increased. Ranching enterprises on the reservation consist of range units of 1,460 acres to 24,841 acres, each capable of sustaining 11 to 376 animal units during the grazing season. Although there are approximately 58,000 acres of irrigable land on the reservation, currently only 6,496 acres of dry farming land and 1,000 acres of irrigated land are in use. The 1990 crop production was valued at $365,000, and the tribe anticipates the expansion of its agricultural output. CONSTRUCTION The Tribal Public Works Department supports construction on the reservation and focuses on community development projects. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS The Jicarilla Apache have two development groups which advise the tribe on economic issues. The Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) and Committee supply the tribe with a comprehensive assessment of the tribe s resources. The IRMP has been developed through a cooperative tribal/federal interdisciplinary planning team. Its goals are to ensure and develop a direction for sustainable growth and to protect the reservation s resources compatible with the traditional values of the tribe. In addition, the Jicarilla Economic and Industrial Commission, formed in 1993, is charged with the task of developing and implementing a comprehensive economic development plan. The Commission identifies start-up businesses that will serve the needs of tribal members, as well as businesses that could be relocated to the reservation, and makes recommendations to the Tribal Council. The Commission comprises five tribal members and five outside business and economic development specialists. An economic planner serves as staff to the Commission. FORESTRY Nearly 50 percent, or 404,837 acres, of the reservation is forested. This acreage comprises 184,282 acres of timberland and 270,857 acres of woodland. Ponderosa pine represents the majority (over 90 percent) of commercial tree species. Harvesting occurs on the northern half of the reservation. The tribe s timber harvest and management began in the early part of the century. Modern 444

11 Jicarilla Apache New Mexico forest management planning by the BIA began in 1993, and the tribe operated a sawmill between 1946 and The tribe is currently considering the feasibility of developing another tribal sawmill. The Tribal Forestry Committee serves as the tribe s policy advisor on forest and woodland management matters. The Committee reviews forest management plans, timber sales, and management practices of the BIA Jicarilla Agency Branch of Forestry. AS EMPLOYER Government jobs account for 43 percent (392) of the employment for tribal members. Local government supports 57 percent (227) of the jobs, state government 18 percent (70), and the federal government 24 percent (95). OIL AND GAS The tribe s most important source of tribal revenue stems from its mineral reserves. The Jicarilla Apache Reservation is geographically situated in the resource-rich San Juan Basin, which contains large amounts of oil, gas, coal, uranium, and geothermal reserves. Coal underlies nearly all of the reservation, and oil and gas pools underlie the southern portion of the reservation. Crude oil accounts for 25 percent of the mineral revenues and natural gas 75 percent. The Jicarilla Apache Tribe is the single largest mineral owner in the basin, excluding the U.S. government. During more than 35 years of gas and oil activity on the reservation, over 2,700 wells were drilled. The 1993 production from 2,200 active wells was nearly 900,000 barrels of oil (BO) and 30 cubic feet of gas (BCF). Two recent discoveries highlight the new potential of this mature basin. Gas from the Fruitland coal seam has more than doubled the basin s gas production. Additionally, an estimated five to ten million barrel (MMBO) reservoir was discovered on the relatively unexplored northern half of the reservation. The tribe has two offices that manage oil and gas resources. The Oil and Gas Administration is responsible for inspecting tribal wells, monitoring lease compliance, overseeing exploration, negotiating new oil and gas projects and proposals, and monitoring of permittees. This office also operates the Jicarilla Energy Company (JECO), an enterprise under the Tribal Council. JECO has a draft plan of operating which has not been adopted to date by the Tribal Council. The Oil and Gas Accounting Office, separate from the Oil and Gas Administration, performs minerals accounting, production reports, and auditing. accommodations, with a restaurant and lounge, and a gift shop with original arts and crafts. A rest stop is located at the intersection of State Highways 44 and 537. Tribally owned businesses include the Jicarilla Apache Shopping Center, Apache House of Liquors, and a Conoco Station with a convenience store. Tribal revenues also stem from a number of off-reservation endeavors, such as ownership of the Floridian Hotel in Orlando, Florida, the funding of time-share properties in Orlando, and partnership in a time-share lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In Whitney Mountain, Arizona, the tribe is a partner in a lodge/ restaurant/time-share business. The Jicarilla Apache Reservation is located in a growing, major regional, multi-season recreation and tourism zone. The reservation offers the recreationalist and tourist some of the most spectacular vacation, sightseeing, sports, hunting, and fishing opportunities in the southwestern United States. There is access to the reservation via State Roads 44 and 537, but U.S. 64/84, the corridor to the northeast through New Mexico and southern Colorado, carries most of the regional traffic which bypasses the reservation. For the sports enthusiast, hunting on the reservation is considered some of the best in the United Sates, drawing hunters and sightseers worldwide. Five major big game (elk and deer) migration corridors cross the reservation. Game includes elk, black bear, mountain lion, turkey, and Canadian geese. In addition, seven of the tribe s 15 mountain lakes are stocked with rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. Camping and picnicking are permitted around the reservation lakes, where picnic tables, grills, and shelters are available. Many visitors also enjoy hiking, exploring, and taking trail rides through the reservation. With an archeological site density of approximately 25 sites per square mile, there are many cultural attractions on the reservation. These include two major archeological sites, La Jara and Cordova Canyon Cliff Dwellings. The Jicarilla Apache s The service industry represents a substantial percentage of tribal employment. The only community on the reservation, Dulce, has several businesses, including a modern shopping center complex, two service stations, (one with a small store), and a modern hotel. The tribally owned Best Western Jicarilla Inn offers excellent Oil Field on the Southern Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation 445